Dec 11 2016, I turned another year older.. Want to know how old?  Easy.. just count the number of roses 🙂 Yep, thats right.. My husband has made a tradition, where every birthday he gives me roses which are exactly equal to my age, in number. (Read my old post here, about the story behind these yearly roses..)

A couple of days before my birthday, I was feeling low and sad… so I decided to cheer myself up with some retail therapy. I splurged at Sephora and treated myself to some Huda beauty makeup, I had been eyeing for a long time.

Confession: Buying it didn’t me make AS happy as using them. Totally happy with my purchase!

My friends wanted to do something special for my birthday but I wasn’t really up for it.. It finally ended up being a lil breakfast plan… (which I cancelled almost twice!), but eventually we did meet up on my birthday…. And all of a sudden, there she was.. my bff Naveen!! She flew in the previous night to surprise me! (How cool is that! ) There were tears, followed by lots and lots of laughter! Such a wonderful surprise! Nothing could be better than that!

A wonderful chilly December morning spent with friends, who are like family in Doha.. and of course yummy food! Perfect right? (Wait…. It does get better..)My friends gave me a birthday present I could never have GUESSED! As I unwrapped the huge heavy box, I bursted out laughing! A sewing machine! (YES! You read that right!). 

Though it seemed more like my Jahez (a wedding gift) and not a birthday gift (and we cracked some crazy insane jokes around it..), it is such a thoughtful present..specially for me. They had read my blogposts about how I make the costumes for my kids, stitching everything with hands…. (and complaining how my fingers hurt afterwards). Thats how they came up with this gift idea! And I ABSOLUTELY LOVE it! (Thank you so much gals! xx)

Another friend gave me this personalized mug (and I am a such huge fan of personalized gifts).  I am having my tea in this now! I simply ADORE it! It reads

“I BLOG – What’s your super power?”

The morning spent with friend and dinner with my family and lots and lots of love and wishes from family, friends and readers from across the globe.

Thank you everyone! xx