Hello ,

My birthday was last week. Not a special one—just another normal day. At least, it would have been a forgettable day if I didn't have one friend, Lovely Natasha, who made it special by inviting me and Mr. Bloom out for dinner to celebrate.

Why? Because my darling husband didn't remember. We can cut him some slack, though—this is only the sixteenth of my birthdays we've been together.

Since Mr. Bloom is, frankly, so lame with birthdays, I didn't expect any presents. But Lovely Natasha arrived at the restaurant with a gorgeous gift wrapped in the perfect paper, tied with a jaunty ribbon. And inside? Three pairs of hand knit socks that are so delightfully Danika it's as if they'd been made with me in mind.

(They weren't—they were a regift, but no less meaningful or perfect.)

On the way home from dinner, darling husband asked if I'd had a nice birthday. I replied with, "It would have been nice to have cake and candles and off-key singing. But, I'll let you know when I see what my present from you is," knowing full well there wasn't one.

He said that paying for my dinner was his present to me. Then he followed up with what should have been an internal thought, not one spoken out loud.

"I should have held on to your Onesie," he said.

I didn't understand.

"Well," he said, "I should have given it to you for your birthday."

"Then what would you have given me for Christmas?"

"The mug warmer."

Then my internal voice spoke out loud. Just one word. "Lame."

Mr. Bloom's birthday is in two weeks. I always get him something—nothing elaborate, but something so he knows I'm paying attention. And of course, I always have a cake for him—and never homemade since I love him and my baking skills are no gift to anyone!

What do you think—should I be the better person or let him experience how it feels to have his birthday forgotten?

I'm half inclined to take one of the six gifts I gave him for Christmas, rewrap it and say, "Oops. Meant to give you this one for your birthday!"

I think he'd laugh. I know I would!

What do your loved ones do for you on your special day? What do you do for them?

I have special cover paperbacks 🎉

Over the last couple of years I've been asked about paperback versions of the books in my Mixed Six-Pack series ... and I've always said, "soon!" Well, soon is finally here.

If you prefer to flip actual pages when you read, happy birthday!!

For the next few days I've got them priced almost as low as Amazon will allow, at $12.99 in the US and £10.99 in the UK. Sadly, the cost of printing in Canada and Australia is ridiculous.

Every book is a full-length novel with between 300 and 336 pages.

I decided to give the books fun subtitles—since the original titles are, well, not fabulous! And the paperbacks feature the subtitle. I absolutely love them!

Here are the links to get them while they're on sale:

First In: Cheeky with the Fire Chief

Second Breath: Dazzled by my Blind Date

Third Party: Merry with the Millionaire

Rhodes to Love: Daring with the Single Dad

If you're celebrating an early February birthday, happy birthday fellow Aquarian!

love&specialstuff,

Danika

xo

PS - Let me know if you're in the camp of "birthdays are just another day" or "birthdays are meant to be celebrated." And when you write back, tell me your favorite birthday story!