This is 40

Well, it came.  My 40th birthday.  I woke up, just the same.  Don't feel any different.  Except maybe relieved that it is no longer in front of me.

I will linger on this no longer, only to say that I decided that I wanted a couple of specific gifts, and that I would selectively treat myself to them.

1. Artwork

One of the things that has been so great about getting all the furniture and big statement items done around here is hanging artwork.  We don't "need" anything more, but I love that there are little spots here and there to fill over the years.  For now, I wanted something small and colorful and not too pricey.

Mequitta Ahuja, "Dream Sequence: Winged" 8x10

Just discovered Grove and Ceremony through Joslyn, who I believe also has a birthday today!

2. A rug for the kitchen

This is one of the last pieces for the house.  I often take up the kitchen rug in the summer, but it is decidedly winter around here.

These are all vintage persian rugs from eSale rugs, which is where I got my entry rug.  The top one one here is my favorite but its dimensions are not as good--it is several inches wider than the others.

3. a Serious, grown-up bag

I haul a lot of stuff around, almost all the time.  And my bags are shot.  The thing is, I'm not much of a handbag girl, so doing the research is a snore.  But the idea is to invest in something that I cancarry all the time for the next 5 years (or more!)

These are some that caught my eye.  Top row: Ellington handbags.  Bottom row: Madewell.

4. A really good design book

I bought this for myself, and then my favorite design-loving Aunt sent it to me, too.  Great minds!  I read it cover to cover this weekend.  It features the homes of a collection of the designers influencers, and it is totally fascinating to see how she has indeed drawn inspiration from varied sources to create her own totally distinctive style.

5. Surprise!

And then my husband surprised me with an AMAZING vintage C. Jere tree sculpture from my favorite vintage emporium, retro wanderlust.  It reminds me of the delicate bronze min-statues my grandmother had when I was growing up, only, you know, 5 feet tall.

Photo coming soon!