I'm a self-proclaimed birthday junkie

I love birthdays. I love your birthday, I love my birthday, I love celebrating birthdays. There is something so exciting, so new, so wonderful to me about birthdays. It's a whole day just for you! It's a chance to start over, a chance to carry the great from one year to the next, a chance to grow up a little bit. Birthdays are the best.

So, today I turn 27. I can't help but think, "this year is going to be the best EVER." And then I get a little sad, because wasn't last year, and the year before, and the year before that, weren't those the best years ever, too? They were - they were the perfect 24, the perfect 25, the perfect 26, and this year is most certainly going to be the best 27th year I'll ever have.

This year I am going to sparkle, shine, and shimmer. I'm going to try new things, go out on limbs, take adventures in stride. I'm kicking 27 off exactly how I want this year to go: on a trip to London with my best friend and favorite travel partner. We have flights and hotels and a rental car and guidebooks and no real plans. I'm dreaming of meeting Princess Kate and seeing the Lochness Monster, and my partner-in-crime is just along for the ride.

27 is going to be stupendous, spectacular, and everything your 20's should be. Cheers to us!

images here & here

Awesome Gift Idea!

One of my friends made a life-altering decision in the matter of a few weeks. She packed up her whole life and moved it across the country to work in Telluride, Colorado. I'm so proud of her, so excited for her, and a little bit jealous! Before she left, we had a small going-away/birthday gathering with some of her close friends at a restaurant I never would have chosen for myself - H. Harper Station in Reynoldstown.

If there is one thing I am guilty of, it is not exploring the small, unique neighborhoods that are blossoming in and around Atlanta. This was no exception. Without this party, I never would have ventured to Reynoldstown to check out H. Harper Station, and what a pity that would be! It's a converted railroad station with awesome ambience. We ordered a punch bowl, and the drinks were served in unique, small glass cups that looked like they belonged in an antique shop, and they were held on a shelf for everyone to see. I wish I had snapped a picture!

delicious food & drinks!

blurry picture of the girls, but the best one i have of the rest of the restaurant.

The reason I'm writing this is not to brag on the restaurant as much as it is to tell you guys about the AWESOME going away/birthday gift my friend received.

One of my friends brought all the supplies: a scrapbook filled with colorful scrapbook paper, a Polaroid camera, Polaroid film, a gluestick, a few colorful markers, and a handful of cutesy scrapbooking supplies, all in a cute little gift bag.

We took turns taking pictures and being in pictures, and for every picture, you had to write a special note to the guest of honor and glue it along with the picture onto your page in the scrapbook.

This present turned out fabulously. It wasn't too big for my friend to tote along on her cross-country move, and it captured wonderful memories between the notes & the pictures. We referenced memories that ran the course of the last 5 years of friendship and made new ones.

So if you are so motivated, snap up a Polaroid camera, order some Polaroid film, and get creating. It'll be a present your friends will never forget!

Happy Birthday Week To Me

It is no secret that I love birthdays. More specifically, I love my own birthday, but I really love to celebrate my friends birthdays as well.

Possibly my most significant birthday yet is less than 1 week away.


24th birthday homemade ice cream cake

Last year was a pretty epic celebration. I had all of my closest friends at my house for dinner and drinks and then we headed out to a bar for continued celebrations. I got taken out for birthday brunch the next day and just felt nothing but love. I think that's why I like birthdays so much - it's kind of like Valentine's Day to me. It's a day when you get to go above and beyond.

It's hard to believe I am going to be 25. I think about the time that has passed since I graduated college. It's been an unbelievable 2.5 years. If you would have told me that I would have a job that I am obsessed with, I would have agreed and totally believed you. If you would have told me that I would still be single, I might have died a little bit inside. I'm still amazed by the things I have experienced in my 25 years, and by the things I have been so fortunate to not have experienced. I am beyond blessed, and I give thanks for those blessings every day.

I have every intention of celebrating myself in a major way this week by way of tennis practice, taking pictures of my mom's art (I'll be sure to share the details - we're going to set her up on Etsy, too!), shockingly sharing part of my birthday week with one of my best (and stinkiest) friends, hitting up Sinless Summer Nights at East Andrews, a fun dinner with a great mix of friends, and celebrating another friends next steps in becoming Dr. Kathryn. As I wrote that I realized I'm sharing a lot this week. Top notch friend, that's me! :)

Birthdays are the bomb, and I can't WAIT for the celebrations to begin.

Birthday Wish List

Birthdays are like, the biggest deal to me.

So it comes as no surprise to my family and friends that I have already planned my birthday celebration and come up with a wishlist just in case someone asks me what I want for my birthday. And I may have started thinking about it as soon as the clock struck 2011. 

Yes, I still need this

i <3 video games

But I really want Super Mario Galaxy 2. I may or may not have already beat the first one. 

ring

love this top, especially the bow

I am boring now. I only buy clothes that can serve dual purpose - work & going out. 

With a cardigan, this will do both!

I started kicking it on the tennis court, clearly now I need an equally badass racket! But really, I just need want a racket that isn't the one I bought 4 years ago with my ex-boyfriend. 

Obviously I need this.

I'm not sure but I think I like this

I want a new purse and I just bought myself some delightful new nailpolishes. And really, I'm going to have the best birthday present I can imagine - my mom & dad being in the same city as me on my actual birthday! I really don't think I've spent my actual birthday with them since I turned 20. And, my birthday is the day before Easter, so I'll be able to celebrate however I want! I just really can't wait! Happy almost birthday to me!