Happy 29th....Again!

This weekend has been surprisingly eventful! I was so happy to have time to relax. Really, right now, I should be doing homework since I haven't done anything all week, but instead, I want to tell you lovelies about my fun! On Friday as soon as school was let out, I headed to Glasgow to meet my friends, Josh and Jenn's baby girl, Laney Bell. Isn't that the sweetest name ever?! She was just perfect and I am in love! I have to admit...for a while, I had baby fever. Even when she started crying, I didn't want to run like I did in the past. Uh oh! No worries...it only lasted a little bit and I'm over it now. That very rarely happens to me, by the way.

Saturday, I headed up to Louisville to celebrate my cousin, Melody's 30th birthday. It was so good to spend time with her and our other cousin, Nanci. Melody invited lots of friends out and I played the official photographer since she couldn't find her camera.

The Cake

Myself, Curtis, Melody, and Nanci...Cousins

We grew up as best friends! Love these ladies!

The whole birthday group

Today, before leaving Louisville, I met up with Laura, Anthony, Maegan, and Jessica for lunch. We went to Buckhead...one of my favorite places to eat in Louisville!! It was so nice to see them even if just for a few minutes. Good for the soul. :)

I hope everyone else had a great weekend! What did you do?!

You Say It's Your Birthday {Link Up}

I'm linking up with Michelle to tell y'all about my birfday on February 8th. I typically enjoy my birthday, but this past one was a little humbling. I wasn't very excited to be turning 28 {if you are older, don't judge}...it felt old to me. I don't want to grow up and I don't want time to fly by. I want to stay young and exciting for as long as possible!

If money were no object, I would spend my birthday intimately with the boy on a tropical island somewhere. I know that most people would rather have a big ole party, but not me. I'm not that big on a lot of attention...the whole singing happy birthday with a somrero the size of Texas, just isn't my idea of a fun birthday. I'd rather it be quiet and relaxing. On a beach, with some yummy drinks and spending all day in a bikini. My birthday is in February, so it's always so cold! The past two years, it has snowed. I'd like to have a birthday someplace warm and tropical. Ya dig?

I've had a lot of really great birthdays! Some of my favorite memories are from when I was young. My favorite was my 5th birthday, though. It was days before my family and I moved 8 hours away from where I was born and where my Grandparents and the rest of my family lived. My Daddy had brought me an orange teddy bear. I still have that bear. :) My adult birthdays, though...I don't really have much of a favorite. Like I said, I'm not big on the running around and drawing attention to myself...never have I worn a tiara or sash. I have loved them all, I guess. I've included some favorite memories from birthdays. Just being with my friends and family makes me a pretty happy girl!

Some of you may find this strange. My family doesn't do big birthdays. We might get together (but most of the time not) and my Mom always made me a cake (when I lived at home). I have two favorite gifts that I ever received, but they were both when I was little. The first is that orange bear that I mentioned earlier. The second is a heart-shaped birthstone ring. I was 11, so no way does it fit me now! Plus...it's gold, so I don't really wear it. The only gold this girl wears anymore is "ghetto gold". I was so proud of that ring and I still have it in my jewelry box. It's something that I will cherish forever.

The birthday that I am most looking forward to...well...I guess secretly, my 30th. It's a milestone and I can't wait to see what I have accomplished in life by then. That's only 2 short years away, so I've got a lot of work to do! When I was little, I always thought by 30 I would be married and have kids and be living in a house. Right now, I'm single {with a boyfriend}, no children {except for furbabies} and living happily in an apartment. My how perceptions change! Makes me think of Strawberry Wine..."I still remember, when 30 was old." How true?! Hopefully I can mark off all or most of my 30 Before 30 List by then!

Don't forget to go link up with Michelle and tell us all about your special day! :)

Feliz Cupleanos A Ti!

Just a little fb message that I got from my old high school boyfriend. I absolutely love the fact that he still thinks enough of me to write me and tell me happy birthday. I was feeling a little sappy today and responded telling him that he will always hold a special place in my heart. And he will. He is my first love. The person that I confided so much in. We have never lost touch and things have always been so good between us. Love that boy, still.

So, the big birthday today. I was not happy for today to come. I turned 28. If you are older, stop rolling your eyes. This has been by far the most difficult for me. I am still single. No kids. It's been a hard one. I keep beating myself up over the fact that I could have married Matt by now and be with the man that I am supposed to be with, but I threw all of that away 3 years ago. It's been a hard day. I tried to make the best of it. My family and friends made sure that things were good, though! So, let's concentrate on the celebrations, rather than the sad part of my day.

I tried sleeping in, but started getting Happy Birthday texts at about 7:30. The first one was from Matt. Just a simple "Happy Birthday!" this morning was all that it took for me to get a smile on my face. However, then I turned my phone on silent and went back to sleep. I got up a little later, got ready and went to lunch with my friend, Gina Marie. We kinda have this snow day thing with going to eat at Kyoto's. She and I have been friends for such a long time. She is married and they live a little out of town, so it's a little bit more difficult to get together now. So, while she is in town for work and I am off, we like to meet up and have a nice Japanese lunch. :)

After lunch, I went by my hairdresser's to pick up a product that my bestie, Sammi told me about. They didn't have it there, but I went to our Trade Secret in the mall, and they did! This stuff is a mousse type substance, but doesn't make your hair crunchy. It just gives you a nice lift around the roots. It's Pureology Root Lifter. I've heard great things about their other products, but have yet to try any of them. Has anyone else tried any???

I also made another trip to F21. This time just 2 shirts and 1 necklace. Maybe I'll venture back there tomorrow. I also bought some OPI nailpolish. The kind I got is from Katy Perry's line. So pink and sparkly! Every girl deserves a little shine on her birthday. :) The color is called "Teenage Dream".

After my shopping, I came home and relaxed a little while. Then off to dinner with my friends Sarah and Mark. We went to eat some Thai food at a new restaraunt here in Bowling Green. I have only ever had Thai food one time prior and loved it then. It was so great this time!! We had a great time. Good conversation and good company. What more could you ask for?! After dinner, Sarah and I went to meet Erica and her son, Braden for their dinner time and a drink or two. Highlight of my day was when Braden wanted to sing Happy Birthday to me. Such a sweet child. I also loved the heart to heart that Sarah and I had on the way home and in her driveway. Love you and thanks for being the second half of my brain! :)

Life is so different this year than it was last year...in so many BETTER ways! I love that I know what I want this year, whereas last year, I was pretty lost. I have so many more goals and a better understanding of who I am. I love that I know who my good friends are this year. None of this pretending to like other people business. Last year I invited people to help celebrate my birthday that I didn't really care for. How silly?! This year, it was spent with those that I love and adore, respect and trust.

In a conversation with my friend, Laura tonight, she said, "Think of it as just another year and you're working on getting what you want in terms of a relationship. You know what you want and he knows it." Thanks for being a wonderful person, listening to me complain, and making me laugh. A true best friend.

So, this year, TWENTY-EIGHT. It's going to be the year of ME. I so often concentrate on others and what other's feelings are; how I treat other people. I need to be selfish for once. Not in a horrible way. But in the way of figuring out what I need in my life and taking advantage. Anyone else understand what I am saying and where I am coming from?!