My 28th Birthday

I have figured out that birthdays are my favorite! Not because it's a day all about you, you get lots of gifts and there's more cake than you know what to do with ... well maybe that has a little something to with it ... but in all seriousness, it's because it's the one day out of the year that I truly feel like people care ... even if it's all part of an act. Now, don't misread what I'm saying, I do feel loved and cared for every other day of the year because I have some of the greatest parents and friends any girl could ask for but on birthdays, people tend to show the love a lot more.

So this past Wednesday I celebrated my 28th year of life! I realized three things ... I am rapidly getting older, my bones and muscles now hurt daily and I have a lot of things to accomplish. So I decided I would set some REAL goals for my 28th year :) Here there are a few in no particular order...

1. Learn to let go and to embrace each day without worry or concern.
2. Love more!
   
3. Become more financially stable, meaning a higher paying job or a promotion.
4. Have more fun! This is a BIG one.
5. Write more letters reminding people that I love them and I care about them dearly!

Now, I do have a few more but in all honesty, I don't need to list them all. They're my goals and some need to remain somewhat private! But if you ask me in person, I'll share. I'm not hiding them.

Now besides making goals on my birthday, I had a love and cupcake filled day :) 28 cupcakes to be exact... I counted them up in my head today! On top of the cupcakes, my lovely roomies surprised me with a Coldstone Cookie Dough Ice cream cake. Oh and let's not forget the 108 Happy Birthday Facebook comments. So amazing! But one of the sweetest things came from one of the best friends a girl could ask for, my friend Kristen. Read for yourself... Birthday Wishes. So sweet :)

Now before I show you some pictures from my special day, let me tell you a sweet story.

Have you ever had a GiGi's Cupcake? If you haven't you may not fully appreciate this story but let me try and explain. GiGi's cupcakes are my favorite! I had them when I lived in Nashville, TN and I was sad when I moved because I had to move away from them since they are only located there. Oh so delicious!

Well Wednesday mid-morning, I got a text from Kevin that said "can you do me a favor?" My response, "of course!" His response, " come outside!" Now I was under the impression that he was at work but as I stepped off the elevator and looked outside there he was! I was so shocked :)

Kevin then pulled out the BIGGEST balloon I've ever seen that said Happy Birthday on it as well as a birthday princess crown! I have ALWAYS wanted a birthday princess crown!! Then he pulled a green box from his car and as he sat it down I saw that the top said GiGi's cupcakes! Oh my goodness, I had never been so excited about cupcakes in my life. He opened the box and this is what I saw...



In my head I'm like, "Did you drive to Nashville this morning" so I asked. He began to tell me that he called the Nashville store three days earlier and asked them to shipped cupcakes to me. He explained that they were my favorite but the lady there told him that shipping was not an option. He semi-begged, telling her that they were my favorite and he had to get them here for my birthday. She asked where he was located and when said Atlanta her response made his day. She said,"We just opened a store in Dunwoody 6 weeks ago on Hammond Drive." That's right down the street from my house :) After that news, he planned it all out to have cupcakes for me on my special day! And they we're extremely yummy. Ahhh, he is AMAZING :) I do love that boy!

After the surprise of my favorite treat and guy showing up at my office, my parents decided to send a little surprise of their own...

Aren't they gorgeous?!

I was in complete awe of them... they're so big and beautiful and they have been making my room smell delicious for the past 4 days! Thanks Mama and Daddy!

There were many more surprises that day! I felt so loved by so many. I love birthdays!

Can't wait for my half birthday in November :)

Oh and I'll tell you about my birthday weekend in my next post!!

Streets of Gold

It's amazing the beauty you will see when you are driving along :)

'I want you to know
I’m leaving to let you go
And someday we’ll walk upon
The streets of gold'

Speaking out with no restrictions

Disclaimer: If you read things and automatically think the person is automatically talking about you, don't read this. I don't feel like dealing with that!

So here I am... wide awake... with random thoughts running through my head causing that little something inside of you that let's you sleep, malfunction. I keep thinking about all the frustration, the heartache, the let downs and all the things I should have said. Moments that have passed by where I should have spoken up but instead I kept quiet, let someone else have the last word or just gave up because the fight wasn't worth it.

I write many blogs about how I need to change and how I need to work on this and that in my life in order to be happier, but this blog is going to be a little different. Why? Because I'm not going to dwell on what I need to change. I'm going to dwell on the fact that things need to change around me...myself included of course but not the prime target.

I went home this past weekend for Trina Love's wedding... a classic mixture of high school faces and college party goers. The perfect combination of the friends I cherish the most. There was no drama, no gossip talk, no hiding behind a mask trying to be someone I'm not. It was a weekend where I realized just how much I miss the life I used to have, the friends I used to run with and the drama free area I used to reside in.

I blame no one and I'm not pointing any fingers, I just have serious issues with the way life is lead here in the ATL. I love the BIG city, don't get me wrong. I heart my social scene, my romantic scene and my work scene, but sometimes I feel that I'm trapped in a world where tiptoeing around certain people is a must, hiding your true feelings is a part of fitting in and shutting your mouth is how you avoid conflict. Honestly, it's like being in middle school all over again...just with taller people, who can drive and can pay for things without Mommy and Daddy's permission...but quit possibly a little more childish.

Is that wrong to say? Maybe... and I may offend someone by writing this but what people must understand is that I am venting and I choose this outlet to let my rants flow. Deal with it!

I do feel trapped in a middle school drama game with no doors to open in order to let me out. I feel a little claustrophobic from words surrounding me that I can't seem to speak freely. I feel lost and honestly a little alone...and I hate feeling this way!

Now I will probably wake up tomorrow and regret writing this blog all together but tonight here's what I have to say...

Stop being consumed with yourself! Wake up and look around at all the things you're missing out on because you can't seem to enjoy today because you're too focused on tomorrow. Quit talking about everyone that does something that you don't agree with. Gossip causes nothing but friction. Stop focusing on all that's bad and open your eyes to everything that is good around you. Why worry when you could live. Who cares how they are living their life, focus on your own. You are not perfect so stop trying to pretend you are while making every else seem mediocre. Think before you speak. Smile every now and then... the mad/sad/upset face is getting old. Learn to butt out and just be happy dealing with your issues/life...not everyone else's stuff. (said all in a yelling voice inside my head)

OK I'm done! Venting session over. Feel free to pick it a part.

Box of Wishes

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing, Hoping for... more music opportunities, longer vacations, a night free of thinking, a date night out somewhere fancy, volleyball games played with friends, an upgraded position at work, more energy during the day, more sleep during the night, a star filled night sky and a soft blanket to lay under it, better music on the radio, less back aches, a life outside the box... and my little box of wishes keeps going on and on!

Do You Smell Something Burning?

Have you ever been in the weirdest day dream ever and thought to yourself, 'how can all this craziness fit into one scenario?' Well last night that happened to me only it wasn't a day dream, it was the reality known as Erica, Misty and Ashley's apartment!

I went over to Erica's around 7:00 PM yesterday for my routine haircut appointment. You know, nothing to crazy just a chestnut brown touch up, butterscotch peekaboos and more angle in the front, more bevel in the back. Simple stuff really! haha. Anyway, last night was more than a trip to the apartment salon!

Upon arrival, Erica, Ashley and Jason (a friend of the girls) were there debating, discussing and craving Chinese food. Discussion lasted about 30 minutes which ended with delivery of Pad Thai Chicken, The Family and some kind of spicy chicken with rice. All delicious! and all followed with fortune cookies. Ten to be exact. My fortune...less than mediocre! So there were 4 of us to start the night out.

OK moving on ... Misty came home around 8:00 PM with a guitar player named Dwayne. They were going to rehearse a song with Ashley and Erica for the 500 Songs for Kids Album. By this point, my chestnut brown color has set and we've moved on to the butterscotch peekaboos so I have foil in all areas of my hair. Keep in mind, we're now up to 6 people in the apartment including me!

Here's were it gets good. The girls had noticed a burning smell in the apartment while we were all sitting around. There seemed to be a little haze filling the room and the burning plastic smell initiated a room search for the culprit. Nothing was found but the worry had set in! Since there's not a fire department number listed, Misty and Jason decided it was best to call 911. Fifteen minutes later, while the girls were rehearsing and I was letting the foils set, there was a knock on the door! Yep, you guess it ... FIREMEN!

There were only 2 at first, one chief and one fully suited man squandering through looking for this smell Misty had describe over the phone. While they were in the Erica's room checking for fire, another knock hit the door ... 3 more fully suited firemen entered the apartment. That makes 5! Those 3 split up, 2 went to Misty's bedroom to investigate and the other joined the first two in Erica and Ashley's bedroom. Then, one more knock occurred bringing 2 more, one fireman and one fire lady! Oh did I mention I still have foil in my hair?

That now makes 3 roommates, 2 Musicians, 5 Firemen, 1 Fire Lady, 1 Fire Chief and me ... getting my hair done! Twelve, count 'em, TWELVE people witnessed my hair transformation. And after the embarrassment wore off, I realized what a great story it would make, haha!

The result: No Fire! Just a faulty AC fan that needs to be fixed. The Gables Maintenance man came to check it out while Erica rinsed the color from my hair. So I guess he would make the 13th person to witness my hair transformation. WOW! What a crazy night.

Oh and in cause you don't believe me, here's the proof...

Firemen everywhere!