Birthday: #35

The Shenandoahs

I took this photo years back while camping in Virgina with a group of about 20.  I miss my friends so much here in the Midwest, BUT...I'm going camping this weekend!  In celebration of my Birthday, which is officially today!, I decided camping was in order.  I haven't been since I moved to the Midwest over three years ago and that's just too long.  I can't wait to get up into the woods of Wisconsin and just let the city melt  away.  

I've decided to embrace turning thirty-five because...well, that's all I can do.  I'd be lying if I said I haven't had a little cry fest for a few minutes or maybe a few separate cry fests.  After all, I'm a student, who is taking a semester off and an admin, not exactly the career Virgo, but I do have so much to be thankful for.  So I vow to remember that over this next year.  I definitely let the negative bog me down too much and that make things way too complicated.  So in celebration of me and all that I'm thankful for, here's a list of thirty-five things that make me happy & feel loved:

• crab rangoon
• running - i'm running a 5K later today even
• a thoughtful boyfriend who will always have my back - and rub said back
• co-workers that care 
• an assortment of insanely smart, hilarious and generous friends
• in-unit laundry
• qualities my parents instilled in me: empathy, self-respect & working hard
• unlimited, unsweetened tea at the office
• my fun siblings - sarcasm was born at our house
• Thursday night comedy
• my BF's loving family
• a love for good beer
• new running sneakers
• Cecil Thurlow & Lois Lenore Steele- the sweetest & cutest grandparents ever
• icecream
• scented soaps
• my sense of humor
• a comfortable home
• quiet, alone time
• Mad Men - recently started watching, about to start Season 4 - in love
• health insurance
• art I've created through school
• my mom's rendition of Happy Birthday that she sang to me this morning
• my super sweet six nieces & nephews - my siblings are doing such a great job
• a healthy body
• the ability to pay rent
• knowing right from wrong
• not being motivated by money
• brunch
• my love for design
• having an open mind
• champagne
• a love for burgers & fries
• my tomboy spirit
• aging gracefully

Me & the BF

Cheers!