Birthdays, Smirthdays

Ahhhh….I’m 28!!! 

I cannot believe that I’ve reached this point in my life.  I think this is officially adulthood although I’ll still regress to a child-like state from time to time, this is the age of career moves, relationships, marriage, families, 401Ks, ugh the stuff my parents used to talk about. 

The funny thing is I’m starting to talk about it, too. I’ve recently been analyzing the difference between PPO and HMO and discussing FICA and state income taxes, and it’s becoming part of my normalcy. Weird, how we get here?

I remember my 21^st, it was so anticipated and I was super excited to legally be able to purchase alcohol and not wander around bars and clubs with Magic Marker X’s on my hands. I don’t really remember 22-24 it was a cluster. I think there was Tampa, Orlando, and New York and somewhere in between I’m sure there were celebrations with my loved ones; Maricel, Ashley, Sarah, Lisa, and Heather always seem to sneak into a photo.

New York City, Bryant Park 2006 with Ashley

Then there was 25 in Miami, the ending of an era, Bobby Bowden’s era, but also the ending of my “youth”. Although my birthday celebrations were very exciting I think I finished off 2009 with a dramatic display. As my friend Lisa recalls,

“You were on the floor sobbing about how you were supposed to be a millionaire, married to a millionaire or famous by now.”

At a young age I guess those were my goals by the age of 25, but it was a quick realization that plans may not pan out as you had hoped. Birthdays after that, have always been a “big deal”, since my day of birth falls on a national holiday, but they just don’t have the same appeal as 18 or 21.

Set Night Club, Miami 2009 with Sylvia, Maricel, Ashley, Kelli, and Lisa

I rang in year 26 in Atlanta at the Chik-Fil-A Bowl and luckily enough FSU won which was perfection, 27 was spent at the House of Blues in San Diego and now year 28, my third New Year’s with Tyler and I couldn’t be happier, feel luckier, and more blessed or old LOL. 

Our 1st NYE at One Midtown Kitchen in Atlanta, GA 

2 Moons Breaking it Down at Ivy, San Diego 2012

No matter what, it’s just hard to believe I’m this age. It is going by so fast, my friends are engaged, having babies and we're living the dream 3,000 miles away. I love everything about my life and my friends’ and families’ so I wish them nothing but the best and hope this year has a big and bright future for everyone.

~Happy 2013~ 

Let's Go Year, I’m ready!

2012 Recap

It’s hard to believe all of the changes our lives still undergo. It’s crazy how time flies, as cliche as that sounds, it really does. One minute we were strapping surfboards to our little Camry and driving out West without a plan in 2010 and now our friends have joined us and are starting lives of their own.

You’ve recently been introduced to our child Austin, who’s been lucky enough to get on his feet rather quickly. He found jobs easily and has maintained them steadily, thus we are proud. And even more recently than that we’ve added another friend to the “roommate” list, Mikey or Specs or Bo or we may still be figuring out his west coast name, although he’s a temporary addition he’s adjusting to San Diego nicely.

With the holidays' quick approach it’s been nice having familiar faces surrounding us. This past Thanksgiving we were lucky enough to spend it as a huge San Diego “transplant” family. Most of our friends here in San Diego are ironically from Florida. We had a group of sixteen (including dogs) join us on Colbee and Gracjanna’s rooftop for a potluck dinner, just like the Pilgrims and the Indians! It was an amazing turnout and all of us were too pleasantly stuffed to move. 

Thanksgiving Dinner Crowd

Recently, my best friend Maricel came to visit me in SD for the first time and she was toting her new boyfriend, Damion in hand. Since she’s explored the likes of San Diego before we thought it might be best if we all try something “new”, something none of us have done before. 

For starters, we had dinner at one of my company’s restaurants, Gabardine (in case I forgot to mention I recently started a new job as an Inbound Marketing Coordinator for EHGRP or Enlightened Hospitality Group). While I finished off the work wekk, Maricel took Damion to explore all of the tourist type activities, until we all left for Big Bear, California on Friday. It’s hard to believe the mountains are only 2 hours away from the ocean and that you can see a bustling city on the drive up. Everything you need it out here. It’s amazing.

Family Photo "Happy Holidays"

Moose Cabin Lodge

The windy roads to the top of the mountain were a little sketchy, but we made it up with a bit of motion sickness. We arrived at our cozy cabin, equipped with Hot Tub, Fireplace, and VCR. It was really relaxing being away from the busy-life. It’s rare to actually sit down and do nothing and enjoy it. There was a lot of board games, booze, and napping. It was a bummer that the slopes were packed on Saturday and we were only able to fit in a little snowboarding on Sunday, but we made the most of it.

Here we are tubing down the largest snow hill in Big Bear. 

Here’s our snowboarding experience. 

We only look like pros!

This was so much fun and Tyler and I were quickly addicted. I had a rough start, falling and not being able to get up, but I got a handle of it and was shredding, somewhat. Colbee and Graci had a few spills, but quickly recovered until I knocked her completely off her feet. 

This is definitely an adventure/hobby we want to continue to do and hope to visit Beaver Creek in Colorado, Lake Tahoe, and/or the Swiss Alps (eventually).