Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

Shiny, Happy Birthday

by

Yesterday was my birthday and I wasn’t happy about it. It wasn’t just an age issue, though I do identify with the sentiment of this birthday card.

The bigger problem was that I’ve been stressed and depressed in general. I didn’t want to go to dinner with the family if it meant I would have to change out of the clothes I’d been wearing for nearly three days straight. What?! Did you think I wear Zang Toi gowns and faux-ny tails all the time? Au contraire. I had decided black Acne Generic Girl jeans and an AIDS Dance-a-thon sweatshirt from 1994 were my new signature look. What’s not to love about an outfit that is comfortable to fall asleep in at 6 a.m., yet appropriate for dog-walking when one rolls out of bed at the crack of noon the next day? I told MrB that I didn’t want to go out and hid under the covers when he said he’d made a reservation anyway.

I cheered up a bit when my IT department (aka GeorgeB) arrived to tackle the computer problems that have plagued me for months. I cheered up a little more while reading emailed/Twittered/Facebooked/blogged birthday greetings from (I hope I’m not missing anyone here): Jen D., Cobie, Zang, Rick, Gwen, Beth, Johnny, Rachel, MaryClaire, Kristin x 2, Joanna, Cheryl, Susan, Fabulously Broke, Rowena, Daniela, Marcy, Anu, Jane, Lindsay, Melanie aka George, Fernando the iHog, Mai, Najeema, Jennine, Jordanna, Lisa (F@#!), Shari, Nancy, Moira, Kristin, Debra, Sara, Elena, Adriana, Jen W., Chris, Lori, Matthew, Erin, Monica, Ela, Sofia, Kathy, Deirdre, Wendy L., Grant, Kara, Vyque, Arushi, Sue, Barbara L, Avanti, Kirie, Christian, Amanda, La Belette Rouge, Miss J, Natasha, Stephanie, Stef, Laura, Fiona, PPIEW, Annie, Emmi, Tammie, Alyssa, Fifi, Amy, Cheryl, Daisy, Kate, Sue K, Steve, Deanna, ENC, Georgina, Kim, Brie, Erkki, Yilin, Janet, Micgar, Sally, Suzanne, Janet, Paul D., Siobhan, Denise, Tavi, Textstyles, Frockologist, Nouvelle, Shebreathes, Annie W., Marian, Cherie, TheBeautyFile, Aline, Nicole, Diana, SkinnyPurse, Yilin, Elizabeth W., Lady Cameron XIII and Tina … plus the peeps who commented on yesterday’s post.

I enjoyed the 1981 Altered Images video that Stacy sent me. (Singer Clare Grogan had my dream hair and earring combo.)

I even laughed a little when I opened a box from my sister Terri Berry and her family to find 24 Cadbury Flakes.

These will be gone in a week.

But I still didn’t feel very lively and, accordingly, planned on wearing a flouncy-sleeved black vintage Donald Brooks dress (mournful yet festive!) until I realized I’d last worn it on December 22, 2008. I’d be continuing my strange streak of wearing the same clothes on the same day or close to it each year. In times of fashion confusion, Twitter can be helpful, so I gave Tweeps a choice between the Brooks dress, the happier-looking Jacques Tiffeau dress or my gold sequined Antik Batik Golden-Girls-gang dress. The majority voted for sequins. I’m glad I gave democracy a chance because I found it impossible to be surly in that dress.

Shiny and happy.

Also thanks to the tweet, Frockology told me that the Donald Brooks dress is in the collection of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I was excited by that piece of fashion trivia.

I wound up having a lovely time with MrB, GeorgeB, BarbaraB and my two youngest B stepchildren (out of four total). I don’t think I’ve ever posted a clear photo of the youngest B stepchildren because I didn’t want to embarrass them. I envisioned their friends finding it and asking, “Why is your stepmother yelling at me?!?” Now that StepsonB is 18 and StepdaughterB is 20 — practically all grown up — I’m going to take a chance.

StepsonB and I had a good time talking about the Jersey Shore reality show.

The B stepchildren gave me two lovely pairs of gloves. I have to hold off on showing you those until I take the traditional glove-pose photo. I do have a picture of the beautiful bag that MrB surprised me with, even though I’d told him that I didn’t want any presents … from anybody … ever again.

He picked it out all by himself. The little scarf thing came with it.

The little scarf attachment came with it.

I also got a card from my Aunt Susan and Uncle David saying, “Hope you have a fabulous birthday — what will your blog say??” Hmmm. I guess the blog says you all helped me have a shiny, happy birthday despite my best efforts and that I thank you from the bottom of my shiny, happy heart.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Wow Wendy … Look at all that love! :-). It even makes us in NJ all warm and fuzzy inside! xx

  4. This makes me cry! I’m so happy you were made to understand what a vital role you play in everybody’s day. I do hope the depression abates. And just email if you want to talk about psych things. I am a veritable expert 🙂

  5. Hap-B B-lated B-day, WendyB!
    (my wv is BEJEWEL or B-jewel, if you will). If I used my real name I could sign Mrs. B as well.

  7. chill, girl. you are a gorgeous woman, at any age – 18, 21, 30, 40 or whatever. I mean, we both know it takes work to look as good as we do, the trick is to make it look effortless. and darling, you do, you do. love the bag Mr B got you, too 🙂 i’m hoping for wallet to go with my bag from last year. anything Wendy B would be nice, too!

  8. i’m glad everyone cheered you up, you should love a day where you are celebrated for being brought into existence! if only we always celebrated each other with such simplicity

  9. You looked beautiful! I’m jealous you have stepchildren who will be in the same room with you! Your husband is darling…Happy Happy Birthday!!

    You…surly?! Nevah!!!

  12. birthdays are tough, i don’t know how people get excited about them every year, sometimes i do, sometimes i don’t….half the time i end up not telling anybody, and about 4pm decide to make a dinner reservation and tell the mailman it’s my birthday.

    but i’m glad mr.b made you come out for dinner and gave you a gift anyway..that handbag is gorgeous!

  13. Ah love these anti-spam words… Bergdorf… sigh! Glad you had a happy day and went with the sequins! (My top choice!) You look gorgeous and I hope you got out of your funk for at least a little bit!
    XXX
    Suzanne

  17. Dude, you’re only as old as you feel – the cliche is true. You look 25 and you are as lively as a 25 year old so screw that fucking number that says otherwise. Besides you’re hardly old anyway. PAH TO NUMBERS!

    I have to say though you have made me frown with the jealous eyebrow. All those Cadbury Flakes? My favourite chocolate bar EVER and one of the few Cadbury bars I cannot get in Canada? Luckily my mum sent me a selection box for Christmas from the UK and it has a flake in it. Just one but still. APPRECIATE THE FLAKES.

    Happy your birthday was fabulous.

  21. Paul looks so cute and I love that he picked a bag out for you. Or did you put the bee in his lil bonnet? Merry Christmas Wendy and thanks for making my blog life a little more irreverant. Youda youda best.

  22. Argh….can’t believe I missed it! Glad things improved, although I’m totally understanding the whole staying in bed idea, and you had a lovely evening. Merry Christmas!

  23. You looked so HOT in that sparkly dress! And you are so blessed to have such a wonderful family!

    I want to wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas!

    Hugs
    Sherry

  24. Oh, I’m sorry I missed your birthday! I haven’t been online for a few days. Sorry to hear that you haven’t been feeling your best, I hope that passes soon. I’m glad you ended up having a good birthday after all!

  25. I’m glad that you ended up having a great and sparkly birthday! Of course, that card is just perfect…for all women…everywhere.

    ooooh and the “beautiful bag” is indeed very, very beautiful.

  28. Oh, WendyB! You look AMAZING in that gold dress! And not a day over 25, I swear! I’m happy you had a lovely birthday, received lovely presents and was surrounded by even lovelier people. Happy Birthday!

  29. I know what you mean about birthday blues and I won’t even be your stepson’s age until next year!

    I’m glad you cheered up in time to get that boooooooooooootyful bag 😉 xxx

  30. Hi my dear-you look absolutely stunning in the gold dress and a very lovely family photo too, so pleased you had such a great Birthday in the end. Wishing you and all of your family a very merry Christmas too! Oh the bag is just gorgeous, lucky you!!

  31. Ah you shouldn’t be upset about the fact that its your birthday b/c you look like you’re in your early twenties (no joke!!!) Love the gold dress, rock that body!

  33. Hey Wendy! Happy Belated Birthday and Merry Christmas! (I’m sorry I’m late. I just saw this as I was in Aruba and had no internet at all.) I understand what you mean. A friend of mine, on her 31st birthday, said it was the “ten-year anniversary of her 21st birthday.” I’m too lazy to do the math to figure out your birthday but let me tell you that you always look amazing, birthday or no birthday. BTW you look exactly like your high school photo only with different hair.

  36. Happy, happy (belated) birthday gorgeous WendyB! And very well done, Mr.B, in getting the birthday girl out the door in a pretty dress, and gifting her with that fab bag.

  37. You my dear are one of the prettiest, funniest and talented people I have had the pleasure to come across.. You have no reason to be upset or depressed so cheer up becuase your an inspiration!

    Happy Holidays xoxo

  39. Oh dear this is very belated…and in general a rare comment seeing as my Bloglines has gone completely mental…. but Happy Birthday anyway… from the pics, it doesn’t look as glum as the impression you gave in the beginning of your post… and yay for gold sequins that are slightly matte looking!

  41. Your MrB knows how to throw a party! What a bag! What a night! What a dress! What a husband!

    As for those Flakes, “gone in a week?” You lightweight. I’d have finished those in two days.

  43. i’m so sorry you had to shower and change clothes on your birthday, but i really think it was worth it! you look amazingly gorg!!!

  44. My spam word is GAWJUSS!

    Which, of course you are…especially in the Golden Girls number – wow! (I go the dvd season 3 for mom, she & I heart those 3 ladies!!).

    Please tell the hubs I said hello & that he has FANTASTIC taste..is that from the Prada Fairy Collection?? Stunning!

    I think a lot of us have our ups & downs when things aren’t going the way we’d like..we just have to trudge ahead and make sure what we want happens eventually!! SHUT IT DOWN CHICK! XOXO

  46. Hey what a pretty gold dress; that marble/travertine stone on the wall behind you is pretty sweet too. It looks exactly like the stuff on the walls and floor of our Dallas Republic Building offices. Sorry, I have to notice stone stuff like that when you flaunt it.

  47. Happy beltated birthday to you Mrs B (Mr B to me is the name of my first whippet).

    Hope this year is full of fun and laughter and a few glasses of something lovely and bubbly.

  48. Belated happy birthday, Wendy! I’m sorry the day started out as a bummer but it sounds like it progressively got much, much better.