Nifty 50!

Sunday, February 1, 2015 by  

Everyone kept asking me what Phillip was planning for my 50th. He’s arranged some pretty spectacular things for me over the years so I knew whatever it was I’d be thrilled. Our son captured the moment:

Birthday joy, tickets to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios, Florida, Orlando, great excitement (2)   Birthday joy, tickets to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios, Florida, Orlando, great excitement (3)

Birthday joy, tickets to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios, Florida, Orlando, great excitement (5)a   Birthday joy, tickets to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios, Florida, Orlando, great excitement (6)
Good Lord! What could it be? Well, prior to opening this envelope, Phillip planned a weekend of delights including dinner at La Panetiere.

Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (4)

Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (11)
Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (13)     Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (14)  Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (5)  Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (6) Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (10)      Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (2)      Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (9)
We visited the Cloisters on the northern tip of Manhattan overlooking the Hudson to enjoy the stunning array of more than 5,000 pieces of European Medieval works of art from the 12th – 15th centuries including the famous Unicorn Tapestries. The Cloister’s Library contains over 15,000 volumes of books.

Cloisters, Magic Tree House, Mary Pope Osborne, Unicorn, Tapestry, Jack & Annie, snow, New York City, NY 1938, blizzard, mystery, children's book (8) Cloisters, Medieval art, New York City, The Lets Talk Mom (1)   Cloisters,Tapestry, New York City, medieval art, treasures, statues,  (8)  Cloisters,Tapestry, New York City, medieval art, treasures, statues,  (1)

Cloisters,Tapestry, New York City, medieval art, treasures, statues,  (2) Cloisters,Tapestry, New York City, medieval art, treasures, statues,  (4)
Later, we toured the World of Wings butterfly atrium where I had my 1st opportunity to take photos with my gorgeous new Canon from my son. For the amount of time I invest in my photography, this latest Canon with touchscreen, image sensor & built-in Wi-Fi was the p-e-r-f-e-c-t gift!! Thank you, darling!

World of Wings, New York, butterflies, turtles, atrium,  (10)  World of Wings, New York, butterflies, turtles, atrium,  (13)

World of Wings, New York, butterflies, turtles, atrium,  (5) World of Wings, New York, butterflies, turtles, atrium, (7)a

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And if anyone knows our family well, you’ll know why the logo above is so significant!! 🙂

As you can sBebe's necklace (1)ee, this day was magnificent with brilliant sunshine & deep blue skies. But 50 years ago, there was a blizzard and my mother arrived at the hospital with a police escort. That’s one way to make an entrance.

Mom recapped the story over dinner. Then she surprised me with a very special gift…a piece of jewelry I’ve admired for 45 years. It was given to mother by my father’s mother when I was 5.Bianca Tyler, gala, television, broadcaster Bebe's necklace, Miss Connecticut (1)

 

 

 

I’ve worn it in the past with great delight (photo on right), but on this special night, my mother said it was now mine. Overjoyed is an understatement. It means so much to me on many levels.

Bianca Tyler, birthday, Nifty to be 50, Red Barn, New England, family, love, gifts, The Lets Talk Mom (19) Bianca Tyler, birthday, Nifty to be 50, Red Barn, New England, family, love, gifts, The Lets Talk Mom (3)  Bianca Tyler, birthday, Nifty to be 50, Red Barn, New England, family, love, gifts, The Lets Talk Mom (27) Bianca Tyler, birthday, Nifty to be 50, Red Barn, New England, family, love, gifts, The Lets Talk Mom (9)Bianca Tyler, birthday, Nifty to be 50, Red Barn, New England, family, love, gifts, The Lets Talk Mom (7)  Bianca Tyler, birthday, Nifty to be 50, Red Barn, New England, family, love, gifts, The Lets Talk Mom (10)

Bianca Tyler, birthday, Nifty to be 50, Red Barn, New England, family, love, gifts, The Lets Talk Mom (25)  Bianca Tyler, birthday, Nifty to be 50, Red Barn, New England, family, love, gifts, The Lets Talk Mom (16)

So what was in the envelope in the opening pics? Let me first explain that my greatest gift ~ now & always ~ is being loved by my family & friends. Flowers & cards, emails & posts. All is appreciated. The kindness, the thoughtfulness, the time spent to make my day special. Thank you all!!

Birthday cards, Nifty at 50, Next Great Decade, family & friends (7)Birthday cards, Nifty at 50, Next Great Decade, family & friends (1) Birthday cards, Nifty at 50, Next Great Decade, family & friends (5)Birthday cards, Nifty at 50, Next Great Decade, family & friends (4)  Birthday cards, Nifty at 50, Next Great Decade, family & friends (6)
The above cards from my children touched my heart deeply. My son chose a card that says I make him feel understood, happy and loved. Wonderful, wonderful!! And our little one says I make her happy every day…down to even the school snack. What more could any mother want? Happy, thriving kids – this was, by far, the very best gift of all!!

Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son, Bianca Tyler  Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (5)Happy childhood, loving parents, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, comfort, understanding, son, Bianca Tyler (3)       Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter, love, Bianca Tyler (7)

Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter,  reading with Mom, Bianca Tyler      Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter, love, Bianca Tyler (1)

Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter, love, Bianca Tyler (4)              Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son, Bianca Tyler (2)

Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (17)        Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter, love, Bianca Tyler (6)     Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter, love, Bianca Tyler (10)    Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son, Bianca Tyler (1)

Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter, love, Bianca Tyler (12)   Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter, love, reading (2)  Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (40)c  Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter, love, Bianca Tyler (5)cu2

16 years ago, I started the Harry Potter series with our son…reading it in “real time,” that is, waiting each year for another book to be published…standing in line at midnight openings with great anticipation for 1st edition hardcovers. We saw the movies, he had the posters, the comforter set, the throw pillows, the robe, Harry’s wand, etc. He even had a Harry-esque look to him, especially when he got his glasses.

Happy childhood, Harry Potter, posters, white tiger, son, friendship, boys, video games Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (6)

Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (13)    Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (3)Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (1)cu  Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (18)  Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (15)

Fast-forward more than a decade and our little daughter & her friends are relishing in the adventures, quoting the spells, whipping up potions and donning the robe. The perfect hardcovers have moved from our son’s room to our daughters’s bookcase. Over the holiday break, we watched all 8 movies (Yes, 8. The last book was filmed in 2 parts).

My friend, Sara, took one of our daughter’s best-est friends (since the girls were infants) to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter last month. The girls are now 9 & 10, the perfect age for the story. Sara posted this video of Platform 9 3/4 on her FB page & that was it!! What more fun could our family have than to venture through the fantastical world of wizards?

Sara said Universal Studios did a magnificent re-creation, a trip not to be missed! With the entire storyline under our belts just the previous month, I could not have dreamed of a more fanciful place to go for my birthday present!! In the envelope was a newspaper-like invitation from the Daily Prophet along with tickets to the mystical world of Harry Potter and a week’s stay at the CoCo Key water resort hotel. Simply marvelous, my darling husband, I love love love it!! And so do the kids!! (Well, as you can clearly see from our little one’s reaction in the 1st photos above as we opened the envelopes together.)

Courtesy of Universal Studios, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida (1)

Courtesy of Universal Studios, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida (4) Courtesy of Universal Studios, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida (8)Courtesy of Universal Studios, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida (10) Courtesy of Universal Studios, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida (6) Courtesy of Universal Studios, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida (7) Courtesy of Universal Studios, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida (5) Courtesy of Universal Studios, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida (9)

CoCo Key water resort & hotel:

CoCo Key water resort and hotel, Orlando water resort, Florida water resort, Florida, water resort, hotel in Florida, Orlando hotel (3) CoCo Key water resort and hotel, Orlando water resort, Florida water resort, Florida, water resort, hotel in Florida, Orlando hotel (2) CoCo Key water resort and hotel, Orlando water resort, Florida water resort, Florida, water resort, hotel in Florida, Orlando hotel (5)   CoCo Key water resort and hotel, Orlando water resort, Florida water resort, Florida, water resort, hotel in Florida, Orlando hotel (6)
We finished up the weekend celebrations with my favorite movie, The Scarlet Pimpernel, with Jane Seymour & Anthony Andrews. Luscious ~ Dreamy ~ Yum!

SP 4       SP 3

SP 6  SP 8

SP 1   SP 5
So many other details went into this weekend that I would just like to say thank you to my husband, my whole family and my friends for marking this milestone with great joy.

bright spot flowerThe Bright SpotTM  – Thankfulness that my mother is feeling better, it’s on & off and for my birthday she was really “on!” Even sparkly! And thank you to all who sent wishes for a beautiful birthday weekend. So ready for this next great decade, bring it on!!


Bianca