25+1

I love my birthday. It's no secret. I make a big deal out of it. I can't help it. Why not make a big deal out of a day when you get to be treated extra special by everyone you encounter? In my old age I have made some concessions.... Instead of a birthday month, I've trimmed it down to about a week and a half. That's about all I'm willing to give though. 

Last year I thought my birthweek was pretty epic.... but this year gave it a lot of competition! 

On Friday night Ashley, Hayley and I had pedicures!

February 11th is also Hayley's Birthday! She was celebrating her 21st birthday so at midnight on Friday we went to the casino so she could tear off her under 21 wristband and get some fancy drinks! A word of warning to those planning to do this same thing.... make sure you go to the security desk before hand so they don't think you are trying to drink underage! Lesson learned. 

We both did a Birthday Cake shot then gambled a little. I won $8, great start to my birthday!

I did this same thing on my birthday.... five years ago. Let me tell you something about 26, it's a lot harder to accept than 25. While 25 felt like a milestone, I felt kinda a little bit of panic about turning 26. Things start to get serious after 25. I had to get new health insurance and a new driver's license. Plus I had to watch Hayley turn 21 and think about how that was 5 years ago. 5 years ago. 5 years ago. Weird that it feels just like yesterday. I'm having some mixed feelings about this getting older thing. On the one hand life keeps on getting better, but on the other I can't help but feel a little sad thinking back and reminiscing on past years.

Birthday Mornings are my favorite. You just wake up feeling like the world is yours for the taking. Seriously, just so happy. You know it's going to be a great day. You know you're going to see lots of people you love and you know you're going to eat a ton of good food!

I started with a little run, because I woke up to sunshine coming through my window. Energized by my motivation to run on a day that I could have very easy made a rest day, I headed down for breakfast with Brian, Carly, Joe, Callen and their friends Kyle and Kelly. Yummy Mimosas!

After Breakfast Brian and I headed to Bainbridge Island to do a little wine tasting. When I was little I hated that my birthday was so close to Valentine's day. Everything was pink, red and covered in hearts. Now that I'm older I've embraced it. This weekend the wineries were doing a special wine and chocolate tasting.

Our first stop was the Rolling Bay Winery. It was a really interesting experience. Since neither of us are connoisseurs and we were both a little hesitant when it looked like we were walking down the driveway to someone's house. It actually turned out to be a really neat place. The tasting took place in a small shed with casks surrounding us and the wine maker (Alphonse) talking wine and giving us a taste straight from the cask. The wine was tasty, the chocolate was nummy and Brian fell in love with the cheese.

A little pre-valentine's day festivities.

We only made it to one other tasting roomand we were not so impressed. It looked like the tasting room hadn't been completed yet. The overall experience there was was pretty disappointing. I think we started with the best one!

My first job ever was at a scrapbooking store on Bainbridge and one of the best parts of that job (besides the whole getting paid to scrapbook thing) was that Blackbird Bakery was just around the corner! We stopped in for a delicious orange roll and some tasty coffee!

After dinner (Pho!) and a movie (The Descendents) the birthday festivities got into full swing with a little.... ROCKIN' BOWL!

Basically it is just bowling with the lights turned down, loud music and black lights. But it is really so much more than that!!! We had a blast. I'm an awful bowler, but I had a great time just the same! Lots of great friend time!

I think this birthday was extra epic :) I'm spoiled by the great people in my life. I'm a very lucky girl.